Writing 101, Day Three: Commit to a Writing Practice

Today, celebrate three songs that are significant to you. For your twist, write for fifteen minutes without stopping — and build a writing habit.

Day Three (my take): Write uncensored, discuss three songs that are meaningful to me. Write uninterrupted for 15 minutes.

Writing without crossing out or censoring and editing is difficult for me. It makes my perfectionist self scream bloody murder. It’s screaming now – judgment, judgment, judgment! I intend to write through my screaming, get to the other side, and see if I like it. I have my doubts – and (for the record) I cannot leave obvious mistakes un-fixed.

Okay,next up, three songs. The first is: “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (although I believe the actual composer/lyricist is Graham Nash). I just noticed that it’s 11:11 – a time of day I believe to be sacred. The song is a spoken lesson to both children and parents about empathy, kindness, understanding one another’s points of view, and expansiveness. It resonated in the 1970s, and it resonates still. The test of time has been stood.

The second is: “Oh My Papa” which is from my mother’s time. The reason it means something to me is because it meant something to her. Since her father died when she was ten, it pulled at her guts for the majority of her life. It is not a song I sing, but now that my father is dead, the meaning is clearer as is her pain. The emotion that comes with this song chokes me, because I remember watching her trying to sing it without crying, which she could not. In my young years I didn’t get why she’d react so emotionally. Once again – youth is a funny, fickle and often unwise.

The third song is: “Over The Rainbow” which just came out of my mouth from fingers tapping on the keyboard. But I can see why I’d pick it – it’s up my alley. Rainbows, pretty, happy, colorful. I like to think of the world in these terms. Do I know it’s ridiculous? False even? Sure I do. But it makes me feel safe – even though it’s a lie. Well, I’ve written for 14 minutes, I can’t say uncensored exactly, but fairly continuously – even though (for the sake of transparency) I am going to read it over and make sure no glaring errors abound. Life is a process.

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About wendykarasin

I am complicated and seeking - joy and sorrow, country and city, competition and cooperation. After behavior of a gregarious nature, I require down time to refuel. My loves are children, family, friends, reading, writing, blogging, fitness, and health. I feel most alive when I stay true to my core values. Beauty makes me happy, pain helps me grow.

5 Responses to Practicing

Haven’t had a chance to write yet today, probably shouldn’t have read your post – cheating? But it was great. I totally agree about fixing mistakes, it makes me crazy too. Love your choices and touching explanations. I’ve actually been trying to learn Over the Rainbow on my ukelele!

Nah, not cheating, elucidating. I’ve been working on that perfectionistic aspect of my personality for decades. And I am improving, but writing mistakes are a biggie for me. The problem with perfect is…what is perfect? And striving to achieve it can stop one In their tracks. So, maybe it’s a good exercise for both of us. Thanks for commenting. Much appreciated.

Excellent choices. I love over the rainbow. It’s so hopeful. Teach Your children has great harmonies and I have a vague recollection of Oh my Papa, to me he was so wonderful. Is that the song you mean? Anyway I enjoyed your writing very much. Well done.